“Our Daily Bread”… http://odb.org/2012/07/04/fireworks-and-freedom/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie … http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
Acts 4:12… “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (NKJV)
On this 4th of July here in the USA, America celebrates the freedom from tyranny that England was trying to impose on the young country… No one likes to be controlled by someone else… It is human nature for us to want to be free to do as we choose… And yet, so many people in this world are under the tyranny of Satan, blinded by his bonds of sin and shame…2 Corinthians 4:3-4…
There is only one way to break free from these chains of sin… All humans must have saving faith in Jesus Christ, to be forgiven of their sins, and brought into God’s family as a child of God… Jesus told us this Himself, in…John 14:6… Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)
All humans will take one of two paths in their lifetime… The broad way of works salvation (which Jesus warns us about, in… Matthew 7:21-23)…that will have them being turned away by the Lord from the gates of heaven when they die; or the narrow way of saving faith in Jesus Christ, which will lead to eternal life in heaven… Jesus warns us about these two paths in…Matthew 7:13-14… “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (NKJV)
God has recorded this scripture for our benefit… There are so many people living on this planet, that believe they are going to heaven… Unfortunately, the reality is that there is only One true God…the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1)… And this scripture spoken by Jesus Himself, reveals the fact that there will be few who find the narrow gate that leads to eternal “life” in heaven…
God uses His Word to cut right to the bone, to reveal the truth He wants all of us to understand…Hebrews 4:12-13… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (NKJV)
All of us must stand in judgment after we die, and give an account of our lives (Matthew 11:21-24)… Those who understand and obey the gospel of Christ, by seeking Jesus Christ to become their personal Lord, their Master, and their Savior…will have entered heaven through the narrow gate Jesus tells us about… Everyone else who does not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be doomed; as written by the apostle Paul, in…2 Thessalonians 1:8-9… in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (NKJV)
Talk about eye opening scripture, for those who have never heard about the need to “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”… These aren’t my words… This is right out of the Bible… My hope and my prayers are that the Lord uses His Word today, to open the eyes of those in need of the saving grace of salvation…that they must seek Jesus Christ while He may still be found (Isaiah 55:6)…
Let this day of freedom, be the day seeds are planted to allow God to truly set people free from Satan’s bonds; as they turn away from Satan, and seek Jesus Christ through saving faith alone (not by righteous works done for the Lord), granted by God’s free gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)…
Heavenly Father, those of us in countries that have freedom of religion…are so thankful that we can come to You without fear from any man… I pray Lord, that all of those reading Your Word that are not free from Satan’s bonds, would be un-blinded by the truth from Your Word today… I pray that they would be drawn to You Lord (John 6:44), and that their hearts would be regenerated by You, as Your grace through saving faith in Christ is freely given… Help all of us Lord, each in whatever way we need…to be drawn closer to You… I pray for this unswerving devotion to You by all of us…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
written by bruce r mills
God's group 